Archive: Transport

First Great Western warned to improve or lose franchise

Ruth Kelly orders First Great Western to improve

The government has stepped in to take action over persistent complaints of poor service on First Great Western.

Great Western mainline to be electrified

Passengers lose £1 billion on rail delays

Calls for rail investment to prevent motorway hell

'Chelsea tractors' hit by congestion charge hike

High-polluting cars will have to pay £25 to enter London's congestion charge zone from later this year, it has been announced.

Railway passengers to claim 100,000 extra seats

Ruth Kelly confirms new carriages for busy routes

The government today promised to create 100,000 extra seats across England's busiest train routes.

Govt to clampdown on blue badge cheats

Parents of severely disabled children would be given priority parking under proposals outlined by the government today.

Poor road tax enforcement bothers MPs

The government risks being made a "laughing stock" over its poor enforcement of road tax, MPs have warned.

Govt in £140m cycling push

Govt to encourage cycling as healthy, green option

The government today pledged to spend £140 million encouraging cycling among children and adults.

MPs slam new year rail delays

Engineering work on First Great Western route severly over-ran

Delays and cancellations across the rail network were "unacceptable" and a "fiasco," MPs said last night.

MPs condemn Network Rail as delays continue into third day

Delays continue at Rugby and Liverpool Street

Brown unveils £1.4m 'gap year' programme

Government sponsoring travel scheme for school leavers

School leavers will be sent on six-week trips to countries including China and India courtesy of the government.

Lord Ahmed reveals crash shock

Labour peer Lord Ahmed has spoken of his shock after being involved in a fatal motorway collision on Christmas Day.

'No concerns' over Abrahams' planning application

District auditor clears Durham business park

There are no "issues of concern" over the manner in which secret Labour donor David Abrahams was granted planning permission for a Durham business park, auditors decided today.

Govt stung by new data loss

Ruth Kelly reveals data loss of three million learner drivers

Ruth Kelly has admitted that the personal details of three million learner drivers have been lost in the latest data row to engulf the government.

Latest security lapse 'damages govt's ID card scheme'

Lib Dems say data loss undermines ID card scheme

The loss of thousands more people's personal records in the post undermines the government's case for ID cards, the Liberal Democrats said today.

Ministers set out vision for Thames Gateway

Yvette Cooper and Gordon Brown set out £9 billion plans

The government has set out how it plans to deliver the Thames Gateway project by 2016.

Opposition anger as rail fares rise

Anger at Department for Transport as rail fares rise

The government was today accused of pricing people off the railways after it emerged train fares are set to rise by as much as 14 per cent.

Govt bid to replace cars as rite of passage

Govt wants to reduce car use among young people

Young people leaving school or starting their first job will be targeted by the government under efforts to encourage people to switch to public transport.

Transport strategy attacked for lack of 'green vision'

Kelly launches consultation on new transport strategy

Ruth Kelly today unveiled the government's new transport strategy, designed to increase economic competitiveness without harming the environment.

Kelly considers opening motorway hard shoulders

Govt considers extending hard shoulder scheme

A traffic management scheme that allows motorists to drive on hard shoulder of the motorway during busy periods could be rolled out nationally, the transport secretary said today.

PACTS recommends 20mph urban speed limit

PACTS urges the government to impose 20 mph speed limits in urban areas.

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) today advised the government to introduce 20mph speed limits in urban areas.

UK pushes stricter EU emissions trading scheme

Uk wants international flights in trading scheme

The UK is pushing for EU restrictions in aviation emissions to include international flights entering European airspace.

Tories confirm Boris will run for mayor

Livingston suggests his mayoral opponent lack credibility, as it is confirmed Johnson will run on the Tory ticket.

Boris Johnson has been overwhelmingly selected as the Conservative candidate for the mayor of London.

Kelly offsets Heathrow expansion with emissions cap

Ruth Kelly argues expanding Heathrow could be vital for the British economy, but promises the govt will continue to 'consult' the public on the issue.

Labour resisted the temptation to use today's sustainable communities debate to stake a leading role in the green agenda.

Low energy bulbs light the way to green future

Environment secrectary Hilary Benn introduces plans to phase-out inefficient light bulbs.

Traditional light bulbs are to be phased-out as part of efforts to control climate change.

Sticks thrown at drivers to fund high speed rail network

Under the Lib Dems, public transport would receive massive investment and drivers of polluting cars would suffer.

The Liberal Democrats today called for a £12 billion investment in the railways that could see passengers travel between London and Edinburgh on 170mph trains.